Torness power station takes on another 8 apprentices
The latest group of 8 Torness power station apprentices have kicked off their careers with EDF Energy after being appointed during the summer.
Louissa Robertson,( 18, from Macmerry ), Niall Harding (17, from Dunbar), Gemma Hay, ( 31, from Reston), Jack Feeney, (18, from Duns), Lewis Martin, (16, from Dunbar), John Bunney (20, from North Berwick), Kieran Bell, ( 22, from Eyemouth) and Craig Bell ( 21 from Annan) have joined the companies 53 other apprentices at a team building week in the Lake District.
The Lakes’ week was the culmination of a gruelling recruitment process which started last autumn when hundreds of applications came in for the positions. After numerous tests and interviews the apprentices were finally chosen to join the Torness teams.
Dominic Blythe, Torness’s apprentice training co-ordinator, said: “The quality of applications was very high and so that means the quality of our apprentices will also be very high.”
After the final 6 were chosen the apprentices and their families were taken to see HMS Sultan – the Portsmouth-based training facility were the apprentices will spend their first two years,
“Many of our apprentices come from the local schools and it’s important for us to ensure the parents are comfortable with the set up at HMS Sultan and so we take them to see the site first hand,” Dominic said.
Away from the classroom the apprentices will enjoy excellent sports and leisure facilities under the watchful eye of the centre’s own team.
EDF Energy’s apprentices also undertake an extensive life skills package along with some cultural visits to European cities.
Dominic added: “The life skills part of the scheme is very important to us and after that initial two years away we end up with some very mature individuals.”
After two years, the apprentices return to Torness power station to complete their apprenticeship on site.
“As a kick start to the apprenticeship we take all of EDF Energy’s first year apprentices to the Lake District for a team-building week and this works well as this group will be spending the next two years together.”
Applications for the apprentice programme will open in November and will be through the EDF Energy careers website.
http://www.edfenergy.com/careers/